PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT POLICY & …

1 Health and Safety PolicyROYAL FREE HOSPITALNHS TRUST&SCHOOL OF MEDICINEPERSONAL PROTECTIVEEQUIPMENT_____POLICY & OF THE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE OF HEADS OF DEPARTMENT AND LINE OF 1 - Construction (Head Protection) RegulationsAPPENDIX 2 - British and European StandardsAPPENDIX 3 - Selection of PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EquipmentAPPENDIX 4 - PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Assessment OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS* PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT shouldonlybe used as a 'last resort' or as a short termemergency measure while other control measures are assessed. It should only be used foroccasional work of short duration when there is no other alternative.* Where PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT is used it must:- be selected taking into account the nature of the hazard and the task,- be provided free of charge to employees,- carry a CE or BS mark (these are detailed in appendix 2),- be maintained in an efficient working order and in good repair,- be compatible with other PPE,- be stored in an assigned and suitable area,- be provided in conjunction with appropriate instruction and training for the POLICY and guidance document forms part of the Royal Free NHS Trust and the School ofMedicine Health and Safety Policies and is one of the measures taken by the Trust and School incompliance with the PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT at Work Regulations 19921and alsorequirements that deal with PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT in other legislation such as the Controlof Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 19882, the Construction (HeadProtection)

2 Regulations 19893(see Appendix 1) and the Electricity at Work Regulations aim of this POLICY is to provide guidelines on the safe procedures that must be adopted for theuse of PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT in the Royal Free Trust and the School of PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) is defined in the PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT at WorkRegulations 19921as meaning all EQUIPMENT '..which is intended to be worn or held by a personwho is at work and which protects him or her against one or more risks to his or her health andsafety'.This POLICY does not apply to ordinary working clothes and uniforms which do not specificallyprotect the health and safety of the POLICY does not apply to POLICY does not apply to work with Lead or PROTECTIVE Equipmenttherefore (for the purposes of this POLICY ) includes items such asthe following when they are worn for purposes of health and safety:4* aprons* gloves* PROTECTIVE clothing for adverse weather conditions* safety shoes* hard hats* high visibility waistcoats* eye protection* lab coats* face OF HEADS OF DEPARTMENT AND LINEMANAGERSThe Head of Department or Line Manager has the following ensure suitable and appropriate PPE is means that the PPE shouldbe appropriate for the risk or risks involved and the conditions where it will be PPE should take account of ergonomic requirements and the state of health of theperson who is required to wear it.

3 Guidance on the selection of PPE is found in guidance on PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT against ionising radiation please refer topage 5 of the document 'Radiation Local Rules' guidance on PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT against biological hazards please refer tothe Infection Control includes the Universal Precautions documents such as Laboratory Local Rules also contain guidance. If specificguidance is not available in the documents detailed above due to the specific nature of thework then managers must ensure that guidance on suitable and appropriate PPE isdetailed in local on selection of PPE is provided in appendix carry out the assessment on the suitability of the PPE(shown in appendix 4) on allitems of PPE prior to starting work. A record should be maintain and replace PPE as should be done in accordance with5the manufacturers advice where appropriate.

4 A record should be kept of provide adequate and suitable storage for all provide information, training and instructionfor employees therefore enablingthem to make proper effective use of for PPE users must include the explanation of the risks present and why the PPE is being to operate the PPE and any limitations of the EQUIPMENT which may affectthe protection on the storage of the arrangements for reporting loss or defects of the RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYEESIt is the responsibility of an employee to use PPE in accordance with training and to report anyloss or defect immediately. The employee also has a responsibility to return PPE to its place ofstorage after PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT at Work Regulations on Regulations,L25, HSE Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations with Approved Codeof Practice 199-. HSE (Head Protection) Regulations Electricity at Work Regulations Safety Local Royal Free Hospital and School of MedicineRadionuclide Laboratories (1994).

5 Control Manual,Royal Free PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ,3rd edition. 1992. HSE, by the Occupational Health and Safety UnitC:\ POLICY \PPE11/947 APPENDIX 1- Construction (Head Protection) RegulationsThe Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 require suitable head protection to be wornon construction sites where there is a risk of injury. Sikhs wearing turbans are exempt from theseregulations, however they may not be eligible to claim for injury in all have a duty to ensure that head protection is provided and worn in all situations wherean employee may be working on a building employees have a responsibility to wear head protection as directed by their 2--British and European StandardsNB. At present not all PPE is covered by CE standards therefore the relevant British Standardshould be ProtectionBS 5240 Part 1: 1987 Industrial Safety Helmets - specification for construction and performance(To be replaced by BS EN 397)Eye protectionBS 1542:1982 Specification for EQUIPMENT for eye, face and neck protection against non-ionisingradiation arising during welding and similar operationsBS 2092:1987 Specification for eye protection for industrial and non industrial use.

6 (Suitable forlaboratory use). To be replaced by BS EN 166,167 and 7028:1988 Guide for the selection, use and maintenance of eye protection for industrial andother usesBS EN 169 PERSONAL eye protection: Filters for welding and related techniques: Transmittancerequirements and recommended useBS EN 170 PERSONAL eye protection: Ultraviolet filters: Transmittance requirements andrecommended useBS EN 171 PERSONAL eye protection: Infrared filters: Transmittance requirements andrecommended useFootwearBS 1870: Part 1: 1988 Specification for safety footwear other than all rubber and all plastic8compoundsBS 1870: Part 2: 1976 (1986) Specification for lined rubber safety bootsBS 1870: Part 3: 1981 Specification for polyvinyl chloride moulded safety footwearBS 4972:1973 Specification for women's PROTECTIVE footwearBS 7193: 1989 Specification for lined lightweight rubber overshoes and overbootsThe following will probably replace BS 1870 and BS 953:prEN 345 Specification for safety footwear for professional useprEN 346 Specification for PROTECTIVE footwear for professional useprEN 347 Specification for occupational footwear for professional useGlovesBS 697: 1986 Specification for rubber gloves for electrical purposesBS 1651: 1986 Specification for industrial glovesprEN 374 PROTECTIVE gloves against chemicals and micro organismsprEN 388 PROTECTIVE gloves: Mechanical test methods and specificationsprEN 407 PROTECTIVE gloves against thermal hazardsprEN 420 General requirements for glovesprEN 511 PROTECTIVE gloves against coldProtective clothingBS 2653.

7 1955 Specification for PROTECTIVE clothing for weldersRespiratory ProtectionAt present many of the European standards (EN) are in preparation and not all British Standards(BS) are currently acceptable, therefore please consult reference 7, if in doubt. Furthermore allrespiratory PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT needs to be HSE approved. If in doubt contact 3 - SELECTION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTG uidance on PPE for staff handling blood and body fluids is given in the Infection COATSIn a laboratory it is necessary to wear a lab coat. Staff must be provided with a lab coat suitablefor the tasks they are expected to perform. For example a Howie coats should be worn formicrobiological work. Staff should not wear the lab coat into rest rooms or areas where food isbeing are worn to protect against a variety of hazards such as thermal, mechanical or hazards- contact with very hot or cold objects, including molten metal splash, sparksor flames when welding or cutting hot hazards- the skin can be torn or cut by rough or sharp hazards- substances containing strong acids, alkalis, solvents or irritants may causedermatitis, ulcers or similar is important to select the right type of gloves for the task.

8 The type and degree of protectiondepends on the material of the glove and the way in which it is made. A compromise may need tobe made between comfort, sensitivity of touch, grip and the degree of protection for the job. Thefollowing factors should be should be the right size, and fit comfortably - too loose a fit will impede work, while tootight a fit may increase the load on the should be chosen with the task in mind, for example long gauntlet type gloves may beparticularly suitable for handling man made mineral fibre insulation whilst short gloves may sufficefor handling materials with no dermatitis a selection of suitable gloves, this will make it easier for users to find a good must be taken when selecting gloves, for example:Loose fitting gloves should never be used when using machinery where an entanglementrisk (especially if worn with inner gloves) which may impair sensitivity, fingerdexterity and grip strength could result in other hazards being which are used with chemicals should be selected bearing in mind.

9 Chemicals may eventually penetrate the highly resistant to one chemical, for example acid may give no protection againstothers, for example solvents, alkalis and so PROTECTIONMany processes present a risk of injury to the eyes and face. For example, protection will neededagainst flying chips or particles when using a disc cutter; against arc eye and molten metal splashwhen using welding EQUIPMENT or hot cutting metal; and against corrosive or irritant chemicalsplashes when working with epoxy resins and concrete. Eye protection is also required wheresplashes from blood and body fluid are selecting eye protection the following should be considered:Does the work involve chemicals, dusts, welding/hot cutting or flying particles/chips?Eye and face protection should be selected with the particular risk in the protection comfortable and does it fit properly? It should not hinder movementor it compatible with other forms of PPE for example spectacles or goggles mayinterfere with some forms of respiratory protection EQUIPMENT (RPE) or working environment, for example spectacles or visors may be preferable inhumidor hot conditions as goggles may steam PROTECTIONFoot injuries may be caused by the following:Crushing caused by heavy objects falling onto part or all of the foot, eg oxygencylinder falling onto penetration due to standing or walking onto a sharp object, eg nails leftembedded in with irritant or corrosive chemicals, for example cement burns when footwear should be strong enough to withstand the stresses placed upon it, haveprotected (steel) toecaps capable of resisting a heavy falling object.

10 If there is any risk of apenetration injury then the footwear should incorporate a steel mid-sole or similar PROTECTIONR espirators do not supply oxygen so must not be used where oxygen concentration may besignificantly or other facial hair may prevent a good seal between respirators and the more sophisticated respirators to be used with greater hazards are graded in terms ofmaximum exposures or in terms of the multiples of Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs).Where contaminants are immediately hazardous to life or health, a respirator should not be used ifthe concentrations are unknown or above the specified limit of the the testing and fitting instructions supplied by the also Reference 4-Risk Assessment PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Assessment- KEEP THIS FORM AS A RECORDName of Assessor_____Department_____Activity____ _Hazard(Specified Protection)_____Type of PPE_____When does the PPE requireservicing (date)_____(Indicate if disposable)CommentsIs PPE provided when required?